Topic: ALWAYS!!!!!! Take your tools.

[S-Dog]

SO I get up this morning to let the dog out and as I do, I notice that there is no temp difference from inside my house to outside the house.  IT was 65F !!!!!!!(in Rhode Island).  Well I almost as excited as a 3yr old on x-mas day because it means I can take my CB750K into work(50+ miles each way). WOOOOOHOOOOO. It is usually about 25 to 35 in the morning.  I pack up my tank bag with all of my stuff(tools, warmer stuff for the ride home, etc.) and get ready to leave the house. 

It was about 5:45am when I ended up leaving.  A PERFECT morning.  The sky was clear and all the stars were out. WOW!!! Almost my entire ride was in the twilight hour.  The sun not quite peeking out from behind the trees and the moon strutting its stuff in full view, almost refusing to disappear.  What a great ride in!!

That lovely little story brings me to this one.

I am getting ready to go out to lunch and in my head I say, "Bah, you don't have to take your tank bag with everything with you.  Its just another thing you will have to carry when you go eat."  Now realize. I NEVER go without my tankbag, anywhere!!  Well the voice in my head for whatever reason won out this time and I headed off to lunch.

I go to my first destination(Ace Hardware) to pick up a couple bolts for my new GL650 project and check out.  I put my gear back on.(helmet, gloves) and pop the key in the ignition and turn the key.  Nothing.  It turn the key off and on again.  Nothing.  I lift the seat and jiggle the battery cables a bit. Nothing.  I pop the side cover off and look at the fuses.  AHA!!! 15amp fuse with a nice cloudy cylinder.. YIPPEE!!!! I go for the spare thats in the little black case thingy. Wouldn't you know.. that one is blown too!!! WOOHOO!! Apparently the PO decided to never replace it after he changed one out.(Partially my fault for never checking)  LUCKY ME!!! 

I go BACK into the hardware store and am only able to find a 14amp fuse that will fit my bike.  It ends up working fine and I am able to go eat and get back to work where I have real fuses in my previously not needed tankbag.

To conclude.  I have put almost 3k of carefree miles on my bike since August and have NEVER had an issue.  I don't bring my bag 1 time!! and BAM instant problem.

ALWAYS BRING YOUR TOOLS!!!!

 

[my78k]

well at least the glass was half full on this one...I mean you were right in front of a hardware store!!!

I do agree though about the tools...never know when they will come in handy!

Dennis

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Damn that Murphy!

[TwoTired]

Um, do you now think it is time to polish those fuse clips nice and shiny?

And, get the correct length fuses?

Glad you had minimal delay.

Cheers,

[UnCrash]

Who the hell breaks down in front of a hardware store???

Dog, you better buy a lottery ticket.  Today's your lucky day!

[S-Dog]

Um, do you now think it is time to polish those fuse clips nice and shiny?

I do now. 

And, get the correct length fuses?

I have the correct ones.. they are just in my tank bag. 

[azuredesign]

I am going out for a little jaunt right now and will grab my tool kit after reading the S-Dog story, part 1.

Thanks for the heads up and nice writing,
Ben

[S-Dog]

Who the hell breaks down in front of a hardware store???

Dog, you better buy a lottery ticket.  Today's your lucky day!

I think I will buy a lottery ticket today.

I could have had to push it uphill for 2 miles like someone else I know. 

[ChopperCharles]

Had that problem on a CX500. Used the taillight fuse to get me to a hardware store, where I bought some new fuses

 Charles.

[S-Dog]

Had that problem on a CX500. Used the taillight fuse to get me to a hardware store, where I bought some new fuses

 Charles.

Just bought a GL650... I will make sure to carry tools all the time with that too... Itll be easier though because it has saddlebags and a trunk...

[andy750]

You lucky Dog! 

Good story!

My excitement for the day was just as lucky as yours
I almost got hit side onwhen a car decided it needed my lane....reminds why I never ride through Boston during the working day......

cheers
Andy

[UnCrash]

I could have had to push it uphill for 2 miles like someone else I know.

 

I learned my lesson from that one!  I carry spare fuses, tools, extra wiring, and a spare rectifier.

[ChopperCharles]

Had that problem on a CX500. Used the taillight fuse to get me to a hardware store, where I bought some new fuses

 Charles.

Just bought a GL650... I will make sure to carry tools all the time with that too... Itll be easier though because it has saddlebags and a trunk...

The GL650 is a great bike. Don't worry about carrying tools so much... they're EXTREMELY reliable bikes. Engines are bullet proof so long as you keep oil in them... except for their stators.  Carry a bungee net and some extra long battery cables, with all hardware. That way if the stator ever dies on you, any auto parts store or walmart can sell you a car battery. Bungee it to the luggage rack or seat, hook up the battery cables, remove the headlight fuse, and you'll be good for over a thousand miles (or however long it takes to get you home).

Stator repair is an engine-out affair... but only 5 bolts and the driveshaft hold the motor assembly in and it drops straight down out of the frame on a jack, so it's not THAT bad to DIY. (Motor and radiator come out as an assembly). Replace the water pump seal and camshaft oil seal at the same time (Leave the metal part IN the case, only replace the rubber part and ceramic dohnut... you will ruin the water pump seal if you try to press the whole assembly in without the $120 Honda tool... waterpump seal can be done with the carbs removed and the motor IN the frame in this manner... oil seal requires engine removal)... which brings me to another issue... if you start leaking coolant out of the weep hole beneath the water pump (in front of the carbs) DON'T PLUG THE HOLE. If you do coolant gets forced past the cam oil seal and you have milkshake oil.... and now need to replace an oil seal.

Check out my CX500 chopper with a GL650 motor... it was pretty damn sweet (wish I hadn't sold it, but it was a little small for my 300lb frame):


Err, also, I run a CX/GL 500/650  forum at http://choppercharles.com. Check it out sometime.

Charles.

[rbmgf7]

i had the starter go out in my truck when i was leaving auto zone. what a coincidence that was. now only if every problem that goes wrong with my bike or truck would happen in front of an auto parts store...

[bryanj]

On the CX's dont forget to ALLWAYS replace the thick copper washer under the dome nut that holds the water impeller on or you will change many seals with no effect!!

[GNXFan]

I had that same main fuse blow out on me while I was riding in front od the local Kroger store. I just pulled in their parking lot and called my wife to come and rescue me with the trailer. After that I did the terminal cleaning thing on the fuse block but after 36 years my K1 just needed a new one so I replaced it with a new one from Honda. The new also came complete with all of the fuses in place. Never had that problem since.

[ChopperCharles]

Nah, just turn it over when you replace the impeller. Not tightening that nut won't hurt the seal, but if you don't secure it properly the impeller can come off the shaft, and then you have no water pump (and a big leak!)

Charles.

[S-Dog]

Err, also, I run a CX/GL 500/650  forum at http://choppercharles.com. Check it out sometime.

Was the first CX\GL site I joined after buying the bike.